New footbridge major milestone for restored Birmingham rail route
The operation took place overnight on 21 and 22 June, during which the pre-fabricated footbridge was carefully lifted into place. The project is being delivered by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE).Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker, said the stations will offer a fast, reliable and affordable alternative to the "often-slow moving traffic on the Alcester Road".He said: "They will transform the daily commute to work or college for thousands of local people. "The return of rail services will also encourage more people to go and experience the vibrancy of Moseley, Kings Heath and Stirchley, directly boosting trade for local businesses and fostering community and economic growth."That's why we are working around the clock to get these stations finished and open to the public."Anne Shaw, executive director of TfWM, said the footbridge installation is one step closer to the stations becoming a "game-changer" for local communities.The WMCA said journey times into Birmingham New Street are expected to be around 10-15 minutes. It added that work on the new drop-off area outside Moseley Village Station will involve some changes to the road layout in St Mary's Row. Work on this is due to start in mid-July.
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Shropshire caravan's park expansion plan set to be approved
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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
17 best things to do in London with the kids this summer
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If you are keen to give your kids a boost of confidence in the water, many leisure facilities also offer swimming lessons, such as the London Aquatics Centre in Stratford, used for the 2012 Olympics. The large training pool here offers a place for kids to learn to swim with their families. Leyton Leisure Centre costs from £5.60 for non-member adults, and £2.60 for kids. Finchley Leisure Centre costs from £8.30 for non-member adults, and £5.20 for kids. Family swimming at the London Aquatics Centre costs from £7.30 for adults and £4.50 for kids. 5. Discover London's world-class museums London is blessed with some of the world's most illustrious museums, many of which offer a whole host of activities and experiences to engage young minds, particularly during school holidays, from zine-making to sculpture, collage to finger painting. 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Buses travel regularly to the site from the centre of London, while trains take 20 minutes from Euston to Watford Junction, with regular shuttle buses. And if that's too pricey, head to Platform 9¾ at King's Cross station, where you can cosplay as your favourite character and bag a fun selfie. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter tickets from £56; free to visit Platform 9¾ at King's Cross station 8. Get lost in the UK's oldest surviving hedge maze Whatever your age, getting lost in the Hampton Court Maze is an experience you won't forget in a hurry. Commissioned around 1700 by William III, it covers a third of an acre and is known for its confusing twists, turns and dead ends. On average, it takes around 20 minutes to reach the centre. As it's a multicursal maze – meaning a visitor needs to make decisions about which route to take next, rather than simply following a single path – it's great for stimulating the grey matter and getting kids off their phones as they attempt to conquer this puzzle. Children under four go free, tickets for those aged 5-15 start from £13.60, including entrance to the palace, maze and Magic Garden 9. Take a street art tour Score points with teenagers on a tour of London's best street art. Hear the stories behind some of the city's most fascinating artworks, from giant murals to tiny hidden sculptures, on a tour that takes in artwork by Roa, Shepard Fairey, Invader, Stik and Vhils. There's also the option to add on a workshop, where participants can try their hand at creating their own artwork in the purpose-built studio. 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Kids will love these 16 life-size sculptures of dinos past and their fellow extinct creatures, which have been residing in Crystal Palace Park in south London since the 19th century. The models have their own unique history and were first unveiled in 1854. They have undergone extensive refurbishment several times since then. They can be found in the south section of Crystal Palace Park, near the Penge entrance. Check out the Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs website before your visit for downloadable information sheets and even an audio guide. Free 12. Take a ride above the city A trip on the IFS Cable Car over the Thames is always a good idea, whatever your age, although sunset on a clear day brings megawatt views of iconic city sights such as St Paul's Cathedral, the Millennium Dome, the Gherkin and the Thames Barrier. The 1km line runs between Greenwich and Royal Victoria Dock and forms part of Transport for London's network, meaning you can simply tap on and off with your payment card. Consider the London transport box well and truly ticked by bagging the front seat of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) for your onward journey to feel like you're in charge of your very own train. A one-way ticket costs £6 13. Shake your tail feathers Notting Hill Carnival is a stalwart of London's summer season, and 2025 is no exception. As Europe's biggest street party, it's a celebration of Caribbean culture and the diversity and vibrancy of this remarkable city. As well as some top-class music, food and drink, Sunday is family day, with a host of family-friendly activities, events and the children's parade. Dress up to get down. Sunday 24 August, free 14. See stars Budding astronomers will adore a visit to the Peter Harrison Planetarium at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. Get cosy in a reclining chair and prepare to be transported to distant galaxies, around our solar system, and close to the sun – and even witness the birth of a star. A combination of real images from space and CGI combines for an awe-inspiring experience. There are different shows every day, plus a special show for children aged seven and below during school holidays and on weekends. 15. Hit the West End London's West End is home to some of the world's slickest theatrical productions, plenty of which are created with children in mind. Award-winning shows that are certain to enthral include playwright Dennis Kelly and comedian and artist Tim Minchin's musical of the classic Roald Dahl novel Matilda, the timeless spectacle of The Lion King, which continues to wow with dazzling sets and puppetry, and Wicked, the hit production that inspired the Tony award-winning film starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. 16. Find your favourite animal at the zoo If your little one is currently obsessed with anything that crawls, swims or flies, carve out a bit of time this summer to take a trip to one of London's zoos. The most famous of these is undoubtedly London Zoo, where kids can get up close to thousands of animals through walkthrough habitats and underwater viewings. Learn more about the creatures in residence through talks throughout the day led by expert zookeepers or let loose at the Animal Adventure play area. However, the zoo can get very busy during the school holidays, so if you are in need of something a bit less chaotic, head to Battersea Park Children's Zoo, home to over 100 animals from around the world. The zoo offers up close experiences with farmyard favourites to reptiles, while other wildlife can be spotted in habitats such as lemurs, wildcats and emus. 17. Run wild at the London Wetland Centre If the zoo animals don't quite cut it for your youngster, why not a trip out to the London Wetland Centre in Barnes? This summer is particularly special if dragonflies are your kids' current obsession, as until 22 September, the centre is hosting a series of workshops, events and scavenger hunts dedicated to the flying insect. Meanwhile, on the last two Thursdays of August, children can take part in junior bat walks using special bat detectors to seek out these flapping creatures in the dark. For daytime activities, head to the centre for its adventure play areas, complete with a zip line, climber and trail course, mid kitchen and splash pad water play area.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
New world record as Brighton man rides 55 rollercoasters in a week
A thrill-seeker has set a new Guinness World Record for riding 55 rollercoasters in a Stokes, from Brighton, said in total he went on 108 rollercoasters at 32 theme parks across the UK in 16 36-year-old started at Brighton Palace Pier on 2 August and ended at Thorpe Park in Surrey on posted on Instagram: "I did it. I even did an extra victory lap on Hyperia to celebrate." Mr Stokes set off hoping to ride on 120 rollercoasters across the UK but ran into problems less than a third of the way into his challenge with strong winds and heavy rain shutting down several was no current record-holder for the most rollercoasters ridden in a week, and Mr Stokes was set a target of 30 to claim the inaugural said that he had been "overwhelmed" by the support he had been shown, with some people turning up to ride rollercoasters with said he undertook the challenge "to prove people should just get out there and do more of what they love".In advance of his latest challenge the rollercoaster enthusiast said he had been on over 100 rides across 25 parks in 10 countries.
